Unconventional Parenting

    I have received many judgments for the way I parent my children. I have been told I go over board when I restrict my kids diets. I was told cloth diapering is gross. I have been called irresponsible for not vaccinating my kids. People seem to think I judge them for formula feeding their babies when I breastfed mine. I have been thought as neglectful for not rushing my kids to a doctor when when they are sick. When in the end I do all these things because I feel what is the best for my own children.

{Some things you will find in our "medicine" cabinet}

     As parents we shouldn't just follow the norm. When we read the label on the back of the cereal box and we have no idea what aspartame is, we need to research it and figure out if we really want our kids eating it. When we hear about the side effects of the MMR vaccine we need to use our own judgement to decide to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, but not before conducting a thorough study. When a child has a slight fever and it doesn't seem right to take them out of bed, drive to the doctor office, expose their already weakened immune system to yet more germs, we need to use our instincts. As parents we need to question everything!

{Eliot sick with The Measles}

    Most people I know don't agree with me on these things and that is perfectly fine!  We have separate opinions and I respect that but what is NOT ok is when someone tries to argue with me on something I firmly stand my ground on calling me a bad parent. Especially when they haven't even done any research on the topic at hand. I did not choose to not vaccinate my kids on a whim. I never felt right about it to begin with but that wasn't enough me. I prayed many weeks over this before God gave me an answer. I answer to God above all others. So, if he is giving me direction how can I go wrong? ; ) I may be an unconventional parent but in some area or another, aren't we all?

{Eli sporting his cloth diapers}

Funny Story Time:

    Grace and Eli have a little cold (don't worry that is not the funny part!) so I have been giving them extra elderberry syrup for their immune systems and lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil for their other cold symptoms. Yesterday as the kids are roll playing they are sick, Grace was pretending to give Eli elderberry syrup and rubbing oils on his feet instead of pretending she is doctor giving him cold syrup and Advils. Yup, we're a little unconventional over here.

Autumn's Bounty

Fall brings so many goodies to us here in Ohio.

{Reading outside with a light autumn breeze}

  

{All our streets lamp posts get dressed up for fall}

{Eating our snacks on the front steps}

{Just to name a few}

Siblings

    Like all siblings, there will always be times when Grace and Eli don't get along and won't want to talk to or see each other. On those days I hope they will try to remember when they laughed, shared, played with one another. The days when they rode their bikes, did crafts, and sang together. When they are older I hope they will look back and remember the plays they put together for their family, the cookies they made for their elderly neighbors, the gifts they secretly made for their parents. I hope Eli is grateful for an older sister who looks after him like mine did for me. A sister that comforts him when he is hurt and knows when to tell him to suck it up (little siblings need that sometime.) I hope they will always be able to overcome what ever they go through together. I want them to know no matter how big the fight or how long it last, their relationship with one another is unique and irreplaceable.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift

 to you,as you are to them. - Desmond Tutu

To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. - Clara Ortega

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys(Children)." -Harmon Killebrew

You can kid the world. But not your sister. -Charolette Gray

Siblings are the people we practice on,

 the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and 

kindness and caring, quite often the hard way. - Pamela Dugdale

There's no other love like the love for a brother. There's no 

other love like the love from a brother. -Astrid Alauda

After a girl is grown, her little brothers - now her 

protectors - seem like big brothers. -Astrid Alauda

Lord help the mister that comes between me and my sister... - Irving Berlin

Tidbits

Tidbits: tid·bits, noun

1.) Random moments of life preserved in pictures in an attempt to blog at least once a week.

{Sleepovers With Cousin Lexi}

{Sunset Walks}

{Double Yolked Eggs}

{Busted}

{Playing Waiter/ Waitress}

{Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with 

Cinnamon Raisin Bread}

Malabar Farm

    Over the Weekend we went to Malabar Farm with my family. My dads work rented the local farm for the day for a company picnic. They had hayrides, inflatable bounce houses, food, and lots of animals to feed and pet. The kids had a blast and were plenty worn out. 

{Eli wasn't so sure about the

 whole bouncing thing}

{Grace had a blast with her own cheering section.}

{There actually wasn't any hay so I guess

 it was just a tractor ride.}

{It was such a pretty day.}

{Oh how I want our own bees!}

{The sheep were waiting to be fed}

{Friendly Barn Cat}

{Gracie and Pop watching the chickens.}

Crockpot Apple Sauce

    I love Autumn and all the yummy things it brings.Warm homemade apple sauce is one of those things.  Last Fall I made a batch that last until spring. This year, on the other hand, we ate almost all of it the day I made it because I only used about 1/3 of a bushel. So, I guess I'll have to make another batch just for canning with our next bushel of apples. None the less is delicious, especially since it has been so chilly lately. I even had the heat on Saturday! Regardless, I'm glad Fall is here.

{Separating the pieces for the apple sauce, the peels the kids will

 eat, and the all the other scraps from one another }

{Mixing the apples the water, cinnamon, and lemon zest}

{About to enjoy the finished product

 with a mug of tea}

Alphabet Blog

  Anniversary: June 4th

Bed: Queen

Chore You Dislike the Most: Dishes

Dog: James and I both want a Golden Retriever but what I really want is a Weimaraner.

Essential Start to Your Day: Lately I have been drinking peppermint tea each morning.

Favorite Board Game: I'm more a card game fan but I still a game of Clue!

Gold or Silver: Silver

Height: 5'7"

Instrument: Dose the recorder count?

Job Title: CEO of Domestic Affairs or Stay at Home Mom. HA!

Kids: Grace and Eli 

Living Arrangements  My Husband and two kids.

Mothers Name: Sherri

Nicknames: Katie but Mom called me Pookie growing up.

Overnight Hospital Stays: After giving birth to Grace and Eliot

Pet Peeve: Nail biting

Quote: Sometimes the hardest memories to think about are the ones that never had the chance to be made...

Right or Left Handed: Right

Siblings: One brother and a sister

Time You Wake Up: Around 7

Untidy Right Now: My kitchen and craft corner

Vegetable: Cucumbers but whenever I am pregnant I turn into a rabbit and eat raw carrots like they are candy!

Ways You Run Late: Usually because the kids wake up late or are grumpy.

X-rays: Arm-I broke it in second grade, Back-I have minor Scoliosis

Yummy Food you Make: Apple Hermit Cookies and Lemon Poppy seed Muffins

Zoo Favorites: Watching the wolves chase each other in the snow has a magical feeling to it.

Apple Picking 2013

    Every year we love to pick apples at Apple Hill Orchard. Lots of apples. We picked a whole bushel over the weekend and have already ate a good amount. The kids are at a fun age where they really enjoyed it. I think we will take them again later in the season so we can have a variety of canned and frozen goodies. I plan to make applesauce to can with this batch and pie filling with next. Oh, fall time. How I have missed you!

{Eating some amazing apple donuts before we started}

{Watching the goat and sheep while we ate}

 Let the Apple Picking Commence!

{Eli pulling with all his might}

{Grace could have picked all day}

         
                         
                                                {Pulling all the leaves off}
                           
                          

Tidbits

Tidbits: tid·bits, noun

1.) Random moments of life preserved in pictures in an attempt to blog at least once a week.

{This apple butter syrup is amazing on cinnamon pancakes.}

{Grace taking her dose of elderberry syrup.

 Had to give her immune system a boost during her measles.}

{Pants are an option for this little boy.}

{Tried a new recipe out yesterday for breakfast.

Baked Apple Spice Oatmeal was a hit.}

{James found a Preying Mantis at my parents house.

If you can see the quarter in the tree you can tell how big it was.}

{We think it must have been pregnant.  Look how large its abdomen is!}